Pokemon Sword and Shield director Shigeru Ohmori was quoted in a new Game Informer issue that Pokemon Sword and Shield would have 18 different types of Gyms.
Well, The Pokemon Company has released a statement that provides clarification about the matter. According to the statement, there are 18 different types of Gyms that exist in Galar that will “contribute to the background setting of the story”, but each version will only have 8 Gyms and Gym Leaders for players to battle.
Shigeru Ohmori about gyms
In the Galar region, Pokémon Gym Battles are popular sporting events, and the 18 different types of Gyms that exist in Galar contribute to the background setting of the story in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. In each game, Trainers must collect eight Gym Badges to complete the Gym Challenge and earn the opportunity to participate in the Champion Cup.
Over the course of the main story, Trainers will challenge eight Gyms, which are all in the Major League. Which Gyms appear in the Major League and Minor League will differ between Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. For example, depending on the version of the game, Trainers will be able to challenge different Gym Leaders, such as Bea or Allister.
8 each
Each version will have eight Gyms and eight Gym Leaders that Trainers can battle for a traditional Gym Challenge experience that fans have enjoyed throughout the Pokémon video game series.
